Argentina signs deal with Pfizer for 20 million Covid-19 vaccines
After months of arduous negotiations, congressional controversy and a presidential decree smoothing the way, Health Minister Carla Vizzotti announced Tuesday that Argentina had signed an agreement with U.S. pharmaceutical firm Pfizer for 20 million Covid-19 vaccines.
"Yesterday [Monday] I signed a binding agreement with Pfizer for 20 million doses of vaccines during 2021," Vizzotti, 49, said at a press conference at the Casa Rosada.
Vizzotti said details over logistics and delivery dates were still to be finalised.
She said that the Pfizer/BioNTech jabs may initially be used primarily for minors aged 12 to 17 - an age group (4.25 million) for which Covid vaccination was approved in Argentina on Friday following a similar move by the EU and elsewhere.
The Alberto Fernández administration has set a goal of getting all willing adults (around 90%) vaccinated by September.
At: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentinas-government-signs-deal-with-pfizer-for-20-million-covid-19-vaccines.phtml
Argentine Health Minister Carla Vizzotti gestures during today's press conference in which an agreement with Pfizer for 20 million Covid-19 vaccines was announced.
The agreement follows a July 2 decree signed by President Alberto Fernández creating the legal exemptions needed to allow the import of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Disputes stemming from Pfizer's earlier claims on sovereign assets as collateral - as reported by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in April - had hampered their access to Argentina.
Of the country's 33 million adults age 18 and older, 73% have received at least one dose - though only 19%, both doses.
